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Tom Williams insists Harlequins will not underestimate Heineken Cup new-boys Zebre when they head to Italy on Saturday.

By Tony Curtis - Follow me on Twitter: @SkysportsTC

Last Updated: 05/12/12 7:59am

Tom Williams: Wary of Zebre threat

Zebre have yet to taste victory in any competition since they replaced Aironi as the second of Italy's two representatives in the RabDirect PRO12 this season.

However despite remaining rooted to the bottom of the domestic and Heineken Cup standings, the Parma-based side have been no walkovers.

Ulster only just kept their perfect record this season intact with a 27-25 win last month, while Connacht, Cardiff Blues, Glasgow, Scarlets and Munster have all had to dig deep to clinch victories.

And Williams claims Harlequins, who currently top the Aviva Premiership table and are unbeaten in Europe, are well aware of the threat posed by Zebre.

"They've only played a few games, they've played twice in the Heineken Cup and then they've had their league fixtures in the RaboDirect PRO12, so we've done as much research as we can," Williams told Sky Sports.

"On paper they don't look like they are a great team but the results don't do them justice.

"They have pushed other teams close and the two examples that come to mind are against Ulster at home when they only narrowly lost, while they gave Munster a fright at Thomond Park.

"They look to be an exciting team. They've got some brilliant backs and some class players in the forwards.

"They have a couple of lads with some real pace out wide while the nine and 10 look lively so we've got to stay alert. However, we always pay due respect to our opponents. "

Underachieved

Despite Harlequins, the defending Premiership champions, having got off to another impressive start to the season, Williams claims no one at the club is getting carried away.

"We're doing well in all the competitions," he said.

"We're top of the league in the Premiership and looking good in the Heineken Cup and LV= Cup but it is a sign of how far we have come and developed as a team that we are still not satisfied.

"We know that by being top of the league that other sides will want to beat us."

Despite registering a memorable win away in Toulouse in last season's competition, Quins failed to make it out of the pool stages - and the club are keen to avoid a similar fate.

Williams added: "We underachieved in the Heineken Cup last season. Connacht did brilliantly to beat us in the final pool game and that cost us so we know we can't afford to take any side or any competition lightly."